Competing this year in Bejing are 10,708 athletes. Only 10 are openly gay and only one of them, Matthew Mitcham, is male.
Statistically, the percentage given in the Western world amongst a random sample is between 3 and 10%, with most people favouring a figure of around 5% or one in 20.
10 of 10,708 is clearly much lower than any of these. It works out at around 0.09%, a far lower percentage than any serious study would suggest. Most figures would predict the number of gay athletes to be above 500, so why is it only 10? Likewise, why has only one top flight English football player, Justin Fashanu, come out as gay?
There are a number of theories, some suggesting that homosexuality is less prevalent amongst top-class athletes than other professions, but most believe that athletes would prefer not to "come out".
Particularly in team sports, gay athletes fear that the interaction between themselves and other competitors would be weakened if he/she was openly gay. For example, Graeme le Saux, a former Chelsea and England footballer who was not gay, but was widely believed to be, felt that he was treated differently by team-mates and opponents as a result of his alleged homosexuality.
Many high profile athletes who are very much in the public eye, feel that the impact on their public persona could cost them endorsements, media coverage and other such support.
Other suggestions are that for these athletes, the pressure on them is intense enough without having to answer to homophobes in the sport, in the media and in the public and so choose to conceal the truth.
But, I would have to side with the interaction suggestion. In a close environment such as the ones in which these athletes compete, any difference could drive a competitor down or even out of the top level.
This is backed up by the fact that more women are openly "out" than men, with female sporting environments seen as more forgiving, but the figures are still startlingly low.
Shortly before I wrote this, Matthew Mitcham won the gold medal in the men's 10m diving competition, breaking the Chinese stranglehold on Olympic diving but also, and perhaps more importantly, becoming the one of the first "out" male athlete to win a gold medal in the Games.
Similarly, two members of the Norway's gold medal-winning, women's handball team (Hammerseng and Nyberg) are an openly out couple.
Gay athletes, sadly, are choosing (or being forced) not to come out as it is simply easier for them. Whilst society has changed its attitudes towards homosexuality, sport has not even come close to facing up to this taboo subject.
9 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Daniel Muth 10 months ago
Good article, and unfortunately, their are many legitimate reasons to not come out for athletes. Endorsement-wise it can be the financial kiss of death. I can't remember if Greg Louganis was officially out when he won his gold medal in diving, but I think he probably made it easier for Mitcham. It's also funny how in some sports it's "alright" to be gay, diving being one of them, but also men's figure skating, while in others you risk permanent ostracism. I imagine that many don't come out simply because they don't want to be defined by their sexuality, though there is little doubt, that external pressures play a large role.
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Nick Johnston 10 months ago
Thanks for the comment. Yeah it does seem as though there are 'gay' sports for men. It seems as though they are looked down on by some because of the likes of Louganis and Mitcham, when really these guys should be commended for their openness despite the risk to their success, endorsements and image.
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Andrew McNair 10 months ago
Interesting choice of article mate. Very well researched and it kept me in all the way. There are def more gay athletes at the games than have come out but that fact isn't really in dispute.
Maybe this gold medal will change things a bit and we'll see more athlete's coming out. After all it's live and let live as far as I'm concerned but I do see the problem in team sports.
Finally, a big well done to Mitcham. What a great final dive to steal the gold.
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blackie 10 months ago
At the risk of being attacked for posing a socially incorrect/insensitive question, why are homosexuals so obsessed with sexual orientation? I frankly don't give a fig if you're gay or straight. I promise to never make you feel guilty because you don't practice my lifestyle, if you will extend the same courtesy and respect to me. I will never expect and demand special treatment, if you will stop expecting and demanding it for yourself and your lifestyle. As for the Olympics, if you want to celebrate openly gay athletes, then it's only fair that you celebrate openly straight ones as well! Sound absurd? Not at all! What's absurd is that in this day and age of general acceptance, GBLTQ choices are used as excuses by those people as an opportunity for one-upmanship via the victimization card. Nobody cares if you're gay...get over yourself and your chosen lifestyle! Signed: "Hetero and Proud!
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Nick Johnston 10 months ago
Thanks for the comment, but I've got a few qualms...From the way you write, you seem to be suggesting I'm gay, which I'm not. I'm not homophobic, but I feel I should make that clear.
Also, I fear that attitudes like yours are the ones that I wrote about above. Justin Fashanu, the footballer I mention in the article, was accused of child abuse in the US in the late 90s (I think) and despite being proven innocent, he committed suicide, because he had "already been presumed guilty". The different ways in which players are treated because of their sexuality has driven one man to suicide and many more into obscurity.
Sport long ago tackled the issue of racial inequality, so why should it not offer the same opportunities to athletes regardless of sexual orientation?
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Thomas 10 months ago
homos are risked to be cut off if they come out publicly, especially athletes who compete with their counterparts everyday. i say if ur gay, its best not to be an athlete. but if u must be, just dont get too comfortable.
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Nick Johnston 10 months ago
Thanks for the comment, but why should this be the case? Why should they be 'cut off' for coming out? Shouldn't their opponents and team-mates treat them in the same way as straight athletes?
I just feel that too many people are ignoring an issue here that sport should have faced up to long ago.
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Thomas 10 months ago
other athletes may get uncomfortable and just ignore them and treat them diferently. its easy to say that we can treat people the same way, but its harder to actually do it.
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Don Spieles 10 months ago
I think coming out in professional sports is simply just a case of too much to lose and not enough to gain for gay athletes. Someone risks the reactions of his/her teammates and fans, those of rivals fans, the possibility of damaging his/her career (because of prejudice) in the process. What's to be gained? The reputation of being courageous and standing up for what you believe? It's noble, but not enough for most.
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